Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 81

Including today, she'd come to Jessica's house.

But Jessica hadn't shown up.

Ines could pretty much guess what that meant.

Jessica didn't need a career.

A man like Timothy and their son—that was Jessica's whole world now.

Ines knew she had to stop hoping Jessica would ever return to the animation industry.

Timothy personally walked Ines to her car, waiting until she'd driven off before heading back into the house.

Ines noticed every detail from the car window.

He really was a good man.

As long as Jessica was happy, that was enough.

Once Timothy saw Ines off, Mabel approached him. "Sir, I couldn't find Mrs. Bennett anywhere."

No sooner had Mabel spoken than Timothy spotted Jessica.

His gaze, low and weary, fixed on her.

Jessica walked toward him, looking lost, almost broken.

Mabel followed Timothy's line of sight and, seeing Jessica, quietly stepped back.

Jessica stopped in front of Timothy. She lifted her tear-bright eyes to meet his, the corners tinged a faint pink.

Timothy pressed his thin lips together. His voice was deep and cold. "Where were you?"

Jessica didn't answer. She dropped her eyes and headed for the study.

Timothy followed her instinctively.

With a calmness that bordered on numbness, Jessica pulled a stack of papers from a drawer—already signed divorce papers—and handed them to Timothy.

Timothy's expression grew even colder as he stared at the bold letters across the first page: Divorce Agreement.

"Don't you find this all a little pointless?"

Jessica set the papers down, her hands forming the words with firm, practiced gestures: "I want a divorce."

Jessica lowered her head, hair falling like a curtain.

Timothy narrowed his eyes, watching as her hair nearly veiled her face. With practiced gentleness, he hooked a finger around the strands, tucking them behind her ear to reveal the delicate line of her jaw.

"Business trips, long hours—I really have been swamped. I'm sorry, okay?"

His voice, already deep and rough, was laced with rare sincerity. If she wasn't careful, Jessica might almost believe this act of his.

"No need."

She quickly signed her response, trying to clear her muddled thoughts.

Timothy's lips twitched; she was still angry.

In seven years of marriage, he realized, he'd never seen her like this. She was always gentle, always accommodating.

A little fire in her eyes actually made her seem more alive.

He didn't want to fight with her. He just wanted to make things right.

He lifted her chin, brushing his lips softly against hers, his voice low and trembling as he said…